website: http://www.porthcawlu3a.org e-mail: [email protected] Newyddion HYDREF 2017 Newsletter OCTOBER 2017 www.facebook.com/PorthcawlU3A
From the Chairman
It has been a full month yet again. The monthly talk by Neil Sinclair on ‘From Tiger Bay to Cardiff Bay’ was very well attended and gave us a possibly different insight from the usual story into the history of this once much-maligned area. The trip to Picton Castle was well-attended and much enjoyed. The interest groups continue with their very high standard of work. If members can see an area for an interest group we are not currently offering please contact me or any member of the committee and, numbers permitting, we shall see if we can arrange something. I look forward to meeting up with as many members as possible over the next few months. Chris ([email protected]): tel. 864742
Membership Badges and Newsletters
Membership badges: Chris James (tel. 867472; e-mail: [email protected])
Newsletter Team: Gary Russell (785691); Ben Fielding (07967 831271); e-mail: [email protected]
All e-mail not directly related to the Newsletter should be sent to Brian Thomas (Hon. Sec., e-mail: [email protected]), who will deal with it directly, or forward it to the appropriate person for action.
Please Help to Keep Porthcawl U3A amongst the Best
There can be no doubt that we rank among the best U3As in the country. That is due entirely to the unstinting efforts of many of our fellow members and the recognition and support they receive from the membership as a whole. Yet, we need even more help if our U3A is to maintain and indeed improve the quality and range of what it provides. In particular we need members to help with the planning and organization of social events, including Coffee Mornings, and with delivering the monthly newsletters. We are also looking for one more person to assist occasionally with compiling the Newsletter, when Ben or Gary is unavailable. If you think you can spare the time to help with these or any other tasks please get in touch with me. Whatever you are able to do will be greatly appreciated.
We would also like to form a group of members who would be willing to keep in touch with members who are temporarily or permanently housebound as a result of an injury or illness. It is so easy in these circumstances to feel isolated, lonely and forgotten. A weekly or more frequent phone call can make all the difference. If you feel you can help in this way, please get in touch with me. Pam Munro (tel. 783751)
A Reminder for Members
Members are encouraged to use the generic e-mail address given in the Quick Contact List above as a single point of contact for the U3A. All e-mails sent to this address will be received by Brian Thomas, our new Hon. Secretary, who’ll either deal with them himself or immediately forward them to the appropriate person for action.
Brian also serves as coordinator of our refreshed Communication, Marketing & Publicity team. He would welcome newsworthy contributions from members that can be used to help raise the profile of our U3A and encourage others to explore our offer. If they are accompanied by a photo, so much the better! Members are also encouraged to visit (and ‘Like’!) our Facebook page (see above).
Brian can be contacted using the above e-mail address, or by telephone 01656 772027 (but only between 09.15 and 10.00 weekdays).
A Note to Newsletter Contributors
The Newsletter Team would like to request that any contributions for next month’s Newsletter be submitted as soon as possible, and by Thursday 19th October at the latest. This will allow us to compile the Newsletter and get it to the printers in sufficient time to have it printed and delivered by the start of November. Please send contributions to [email protected], or ring Gary (tel. no above).
We will contact all contributors during the weekend preceding the deadline as an aid to memory.
Thursday 12th October: Visit to the New Theatre, Cardiff: for a matinee performance of Deathtrap by Ira Levin
Trixie Tudor and I have now taken on the task of arranging our U3A theatre trips. We have booked seats for 12th October at The New Theatre Cardiff matinee at 14.30pm to see Deathtrap by Ira Levin. The coach leaves the Atlantic at 10.30am, picking up at Fulmar Road and Sainsbury's Bridgend 10.45am (approx). The price, to include the theatre ticket and the coach fare is £27.50. Please send cheques ASAP to Mrs T Tudor 78 West End Avenue, Nottage CF36 3NG made payable to Porthcawl U3A .Trixie's phone number is 01656 782194 Anne Syrad text 07956419321 or [email protected]
Wednesday 4th October – 2.15p.m. at the Hi-Tide Talk by John Laver FRAS, M. INST. P. – Global Warming – Myth or Monster?
Global warming is very much in the news, with the fact of its existence, its causes and consequences brought constantly into question. Jon will examine these issues in his talk in a way that is thought provoking but not too technical. Jon is a retired applied physicist who worked in the electricity generating industry. Since retirement and moving to Wales, he has been a Research Fellow at Cardiff University, a Science Tutor for the Open University and taught at the Technical Training School at RAF St. Athan. He is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a member of the Society for Popular Astronomy, a member of the Institute of Physics and both Education Officer and Deputy Chairman for Bridgend Astronomical Society. We can be sure that this will be a most interesting talk on a subject of great importance. Do come along if you can. Chris James (tel. 864742)
Thursday 12th October: Visit to Special Lecture Day at Brecon U3A
The coach for this visit will leave the Atlantic Hotel at 8.30am, picking up along Fulmar Road and at Sainsbury’s Bridgend at 8.50 (approx.). There will be two prestigious lectures during the day. The first will be given in the morning by Professor Slone of Cardiff University on the theme of Stem Cell Research. There will also be an exhibition arranged by the Wales Gene Park. In the afternoon Professor Lyn Evans, FRS, of Imperial College London, will give a lecture entitled The Large Hadron Collider – a Marvel of Technology. Professor Evans has a spent his career in the field of High Energy Physics and he led the team that designed, built and commissioned the Collider.
The cost of the visit to include entry to both lectures and the coach fare is £19. If you have contacted me to reserve a place for you but have not yet sent me a cheque for this amount payable to Porthcawl U3A, please do so immediately. If you would like to come along and have not booked your place with me please contact me without any further delay as there is likely to be a heavy demand for tickets. If there are delays or difficulties on the morning of this visit please phone my mobile number which is 0755 208 5799 Dorothy Jones (84 Heol West Plas, Coity, Bridgend CF35 6BA, tel. 657571)
Sunday 29 October, 12:30 at The Broomwagon, Station Hill - Sunday Lunch Group
The options are: Roast Beef; Roast Chicken or Nut Roast. All served with seasonal vegetables and all the trimmings. Cost £7.95. You may make your selection on the day, but please book in advance by emailing or phoning me. Sally Corbett ([email protected]; 07773 181467)
Programme of Talks for 2018
We shall soon be compiling our programme of talks for 2018. It will include the monthly talks and also the Gwyn Petty Memorial Lecture and our Annual Study Day. We would be very grateful for any suggestions you would like to make about topics, themes and speakers, and perhaps you would like to offer to give a talk yourself. We will consider all suggestions and offers very carefully and do our best to include them. Some members have already been in touch on this. If you have it would be very helpful if you would do so again to make sure that your suggestions or offer will not be overlooked. Doug Jones (tel. 657571; e-mail [email protected])
Saturday 14th October - Visit to Concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea
This concert is given by the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra with Alexander Dmitriev (Conductor) and Tim Hugh (Cello). The programme is Prokofiev: Classical Symphony, Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 2, and Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade.
The coach for this visit will leave Sainsbury's, Bridgend at 5.30 pm, the Atlantic Hotel, Porthcawl at 5.45 pm, and Junction 40 of the M4, Port Talbot at 6 pm approx. Janice Lloyd (Tel. 01656 786532)
Third Age Matters – Payment
My thanks to all those members who sent me their cheques to cover the postage of this magazine. A number of subscribers have yet to send me a cheque for £2.40, made payable to Porthcawl U3A. I should appreciate these as soon as possible please.
Lindy Hutchinson, The Pines, 67 Merthyr Mawr Road, Bridgend, CF31 3NN
FURTHER LINKS WITH PORTHCAWL COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL
Following on from the highly successful U3A/PCS event last June, when 18 of our members went into the school to give the sixth formers interview experience, we have now been approached to see if we can help the younger pupils with some of their numeracy work. They have to cover topics such as bank accounts, budgeting, investing, insurance, foreign exchange and so on, the sort of issues we all have to grapple with in our everyday lives. The maths department will, of course, be covering these topics themselves, but feel it would make them more relevant to the pupils if they also had some input from the adult world. What they are asking, therefore, is for some of us to go into school and talk to them about these topics in their lessons. It would not necessarily require a background in banking or finance, just an understanding of the topics based on our own experience. There would not be a great time commitment, but it would be necessary to go into school at times when they are covering the topics in their maths lessons. If you would like to be involved in this project, please contact me and, if there is sufficient interest I will arrange a meeting at the school, where the maths team will explain in detail how we can help. Malcolm Cowper (01656 858812, 07761 498284 or [email protected]
Friday 1st December 10.30am at the Grove Golf Club Our Writing Groups present their popular morning of Stories and Poems
Please note change of venue: easy parking, no stairs & comfortable seating. The morning’s entertainment will be followed by a buffet lunch and the price of the whole event is just £9.50. Please send me cheques payable to Porthcawl U3A, putting your address & tel. no on the back of your cheque. This annual event sells out quickly. Places will be allocated in order of receipt of cheques. Julie Matthews, 47 Anglesey Way, Nottage, Porthcawl CF36 3QP
PROPOSED VISIT TO LONDON JUNE,2018
The proposal is purely exploratory at present but will go ahead if there is sufficient interest. The outline is as follows: coach from The Rugby Club to London, book into The Novatel Hotel on Southwark Bridge, free afternoon to visit, Tate Modern, or St Paul's Cathedral, or The Shakespeare Exhibition at The Globe, or The Clink Museum all of which are within a few minutes walk of The Hotel. Evening meal In The Swan Restaurant at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre or where participants choose, followed by an evening performance in The Globe Theatre. The following day would be spent at Hampton Court en route for home. I cannot be more specific until the Globe Theatre publishes its programme in February and as soon as it does, it will be necessary to buy the tickets if I am to secure seats in Block H which will give the best view. However, I shall not be booking one of the tragedies If you are interested, please write to me, with your name, address and telephone number by January, 20th at the latest earlier if possible. Elizabeth C Bower (38, Heol Croes Faen, Nottage, Porthcawl, CF36 3SW 786234)
Help Required
The coordinator for all our U3A equipment would greatly welcome an assistant to help maintain and prepare various electrical things for talks and other events. If any members would like to help please contact me.
Laurence Parry (Tel.01656 788089)
Coffee Morning
Our U3A Coffee Morning is for new members and in aid of the Mayor's Charities. Friday 20th October 10.15am at Trinity Church Hall.Tickets £2 at the door, and there will be a Raffle and a Tombola stall. A warm welcome to all members. Come and enjoy some convivial company. Pam Munro 783751
U3A Diaries
To reserve a Diary, please leave your name and telephone number on my answer phone as soon as possible so that I can send the order off Caroline David 771657
Stop Press
Congratulations to Leonard Calvert (Writing For Pleasure group 3), who recently won a prize for his radio play entitled "Against All Odds", in a competition run by Bridgend Writers' Circle. Leonard has only been in the group a few months and had not written before joining.
Meetings of our Interest Groups in October 2017
Ancient History 2.15pm at the Thursday We will continue to look at Ancient David Trace RAFA Club 5th & 19th Mesoamerica with particular emphasis on life 782335 during the archaic period
Archaeology 10.15am at the Tues 17th We shall travel through time from the Ian Hutchinson Rugby Club Paleolithic to the early medieval looking at 654418 highlights of our journey of discovery since we began.
Art History 2.15pm at the Monday 2nd PIERRE BONNARD – French Painter and Graham Cross Rugby Club Graphic Artist, best known for his peaceful 785876 domestic scenes. SANDRO BOTTICELLI - 1444-1510. Florentine Painter, best loved artist of the Quattrocentro
16th Pieter BREUGEL. The greatest Netherlandish painter and draughtsman of the 16th century
Astronomy 2pm at the Y Thursday We shall look at the many achievements of Chris James Centre 5th the Voyager probes. 864742
19th We shall look at the discoveries of the Cassini mission to Saturn.
Book Club 1 10am at Friday 27th Discussing The Children’s Act by Ian Barbara Miles Stella Maris McEwan 783291
Book Club 2 10am at Wednesday Discussing Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada. Annie Rance 132 New Road 11th 711848 Inspired by a true story, this is a gripping tale of an ordinary man's determination to defy the tyranny of Nazi rule.
Book Club 3 10am at Thursday Life After Death by Kate Atkinson Carolyn Tansey 25 Heol Croes 12th 788093 Faen, Nottage
Bridge 2pm at Tuesday Expert advice from Tony. Development of Caroline David Awel y Mor 3rd; 10th; existing players will continue through play 771657 (Side Room) 17th; 24th and advice each week & 31st
Canasta 2pm at the Monday New members welcome. We will teach you Mary Thomas Rugby Club 2nd; 16th & how to play. 786137 30th
Computers, tablets and 10am at the Monday A drop-in and help-desk for all your gadgets. Geoff Henderson other gadgets Grand Pavilion 2nd & 16th Feel like kicking it? We’ll show you how to 786790; cafe love it. Want to do more? We can help with that too. Please note the venue. Martin Patten 786745;
Laurence Parry 788089
Conversations 2.15pm at the Thursday Is it possible to live a contented and useful Doug Jones (Discussion Group) Rugby Club 12th life without beliefs and a sense of purpose? 657571
26th Should compassion for our fellow human beings ever override our duty?
Crafts 2pm at the Thursday A warm welcome awaits members who are Pam Munro Y Centre 5th & 19th interested in any type of craft 783751
Drama – Origin & 2pm at the Monday We shall continue our study of American Elizabeth C Bower Development Rugby Club 9th & 23rd Drama by reading and discussing O'Neil's 786234 Desire under the Elms. New members welcome
Film Club 2pm at Stella Friday We shall see The Usual Suspects’(1995) Chris James Maris 6th starring Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey. When 864742 a group of criminals are wrongly arrested they feel the need to ‘salvage a little dignity’.
Food in Britain 2.15pm at the Tuesday 10th : Breakfast Margaret Williams Rugby Club 10th & 24th 24th : Broth and Soup 665128
French for All 10.15am at the Tuesday Theme – Vive la difference! Jenny Cross Rugby Club 3rd 785876
& 17th Theme – How did you get to the Rugby Club Jenny Worthington 785446
Gardening 10.15am at the Tuesday Topic not yet decided Jeanette Victor Rugby Club 24th 783491; Kay Boswell 7727384
German 10.30am at Thursday John Murdoch Stella Maris 5th & 19th Foundation group 07583 570891 12th Advanced group No session on 26th!
History 10am at the Wed. Ben will introduce our series on European Andrew Collier Y Centre 4th & 18th Royal Houses, almost certainly with the 784939 Romanovs
Latin 10.15am at the Monday Grammar and translation from and into Latin. Doug Jones RAFA Club 9th;16th & Enjoyable jerks for the brain and friendly 657571 23rd argument!
Listeners’ Guide to 2pm at the Rugby Wed 11th Prague, Mozart's Symphony No.38. and Brian Nelson Music Club Dittersdorf Harp Concerto. 742159
25th Chopin's Ballet Music, Les Sylphide and L'Arlessienne.
Mah Jong 2pm at the Rugby Thursday Unfortunately, for the time being, the group Elizabeth C. Bower Club 5th & 19th cannot accommodate new members, 786234
Musical Theatre 2pm at the Y Monday 2nd Can’t Sing, slightly Bald, can Dance a little. Harry Lowman Centre 663353 16th Oh, What a Lovely War!
Painting Workshop 10am at the Thursday If you are not already a member of this group Stephen Jarvis Y Centre 5th, 12th, and want to join it, please let us know. 649165 19th & 26th Kay Richards 786463
Philosophy and Ideas 10am at the Friday Gary is likely to be striving to ‘Keep it Andrew Collier Y Centre 6th simple’ in the face of all sorts of complexes 784939 and complexities from everyone else.
th 20 Assuming Gary concluded, it is possible that Graham will try to tackle ‘Conduct’ - it is time this lot learnt to behave! Photography for 10.30am at the Monday Learning and developing skills in digital, still Rhod Earl Everyone Y Centre 2nd 16th & and video photography 772935 30th
Play Reading 10am at the Wed 11th & We will be reading new work Rolfe Mitchell Rugby Club 25th 740120;
Ian Hutchinson 654418
Poetry 10.15am at the Monday 2nd We shall continue our exploration of Byron's Elizabeth C. Bower Rugby Club 16th & 30th Childe Harald. New members welcome. 786234
Quiz 2pm at the Monday Come along, enjoy yourselves and test your Roger Thomas Y Centre 9th general knowledge in lovely company 786292
Science 2pm at Monday This month we will have the pleasure of the Gwyn Davis the Rugby Club 30th Martin Patten presentation entitled "How to 654766; Make a Brain". Clearly an interesting and possibly challenging afternoon to look Brian Nelson. forward to. 742159
Scrabble 10am at AWEL Y Monday A game, a chat and a cup of coffee. Pat Parry MOR 2nd & 16th Members of all abilities welcome. 784211
Shakespeare & other 2.15pm at Tuesday We will continue our study of Hamlet Barbara Miles “Greats” Stella Maris 3rd; 17th & 783291 31st
Singing for Fun 2pm at the Rugby Friday Having sorted the register and been able to Veronica Rees Club 13th & 27th accommodate some people who were 784718 waiting to join, we are now at full capacity, so sadly, at present, we will have to maintain a waiting list.
Spanish for Beginners 10am at the Tuesday Topic: ‘Los libros’ (‘Books) Nicola Evans RUGBY CLUB 10th 771742
& 24th Topic: ‘Mi casa’ (my home)
Table Tennis 10.00am at the Friday Come and join in our relaxed and friendly Pam Munro Y Centre 6th & 20th games. If you have a bat please bring it 783751 along. Please wear suitable shoes.
Walking 13:30 at Bryngarw Friday We meet at 13.30 in the car park (£2.50 Malcolm Cowper Country Park 27th charge) at Bryngarw Country Park, 858812 or 07716 Brynmenyn, CF21 8UU, to do the two and a 498284 half mile Bryngarw Circular Walk. Please be aware that sections of this walk are likely to be muddy. Mostly flat, but one fairly steep climb for about a quarter of a mile. For details contact Malcolm If the weather is doubtful, please phone the leader to check that the walk is taking place. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. We walk at our own risk.
Welsh 10am at the Thursday Our meetings are not suitable for complete David Parry Rugby Club 12th & 26th beginners. They take the form of 784211 presentations and discussions about pre- selected topics.
Whist 2pm at Awel y Monday Please phone me first if you wish to join us to Pam Munro Mor 9th & 23rd play or learn to play whist. 784751
Writing for Pleasure 10am at the Friday We write simply for the pleasure of writing Marcia Humphries Groups 1, 2 & 3 Rugby Club 6th & 20th and to receive friendly advice. 772895 (Group 1); Jo Brooks 859535 (Group 2); Julie Matthews 788379 (Group 3)
Summary of Dates and Events in September 2017
10:00 Awel y Mor Scrabble
10:00 The Grand Pavilion Cafe Computers
10:15 The Rugby Club Poetry
nd Mon 2 10 :30 The Y Centre Photography for Everyone
14:00 The Y Centre Musical Theatre
14:00 The Rugby Club Canasta
14:15 The Rugby Club Art History
10:15 The Rugby Club French for all
rd Tue 3 14:00 Awel y Mor Bridge
14:15 Stella Maris Shakespeare & other “Greats”
10:00 The Y Centre History Wed 4th 14:15 The Hi Tide Talk by John Laver on Global Warming
10.00 The Y Centre Painting Workshop
10.30 Stella Maris German (Foundation)
14:00 The Rugby Club Mah Jong Thu 5th 14:00 The Y Centre Astronomy
14:00 The Y Centre Crafts
14:15 The RAFA Club Ancient History
10:00 The Rugby Club Writing Groups One, Two & Three
10:00 The Y Centre Table Tennis Fri 6th 10:00 The Y Centre Philosophy and Ideas
14:00 Stella Maris Film Club : ‘The Usual Suspects’
10:15 The RAFA Club Latin
14:00 The Rugby Club Drama: Origins & Development Mon 9th 14:00 Awel y Mor Whist
14:00 The Y Centre Quiz
10:00 The Rugby Club Spanish
th Tue 10 14:00 Awel y Mor Bridge
14:15 The Rugby Club Food in Britain
10:00 The Rugby Club Play Reading
th Wed 11 10:00 132 New Road Book Club 2
14:00 The Rugby Club Listener’s Guide to Music
08:30 Atlantic Hotel Coach Pickup for trip to Brecon U3A For Special Lecture Day 08:50 Sainsbury’s
10:00 The Rugby Club Welsh
10.00 The Y Centre Painting Workshop
th Thu 12 10:00 25 Heol Croes Faen Book Club 3
10.30 Stella Maris German (Advanced)
10:30 Atlantic Hotel Coach Pickup for “Deathtrap” at New Theatre, Cardiff 10 :45 Sainsbury’s
14:15 The Rugby Club Conversations
Fri 13th 14:00 The Rugby Club Singing for Fun
17:30 Sainsbury’s Pickup Coach to th Sat 14 17:45 Atlantic Hotel Brangwyn Hall, Swansea For St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra 18:00 Junction 40 of M4
10:00 Awel y Mor Scrabble
10:00 The Grand Pavilion Cafe Computers
10:15 The Rugby Club Poetry
th 10:15 The RAFA Club Latin Mon 16 10:30 The Y Centre Photography for Everyone
14:00 The Y Centre Musical Theatre
14:00 The Rugby Club Canasta
14:15 The Rugby Club Art History
10:15 The Rugby Club Archaeology
10:15 The Rugby Club French for All Tue 17 th 14:00 Awel y Mor Bridge
14:15 Stella Maris Shakespeare & other “Greats”
Wed 18 th 10:00 The Y Centre History
10.00 The Y Centre Painting Workshop
10:00 The Rugby Club Welsh
10.30 Stella Maris German (Foundation)
th Thu 19 14:00 The Y Centre Crafts
14:00 The Rugby Club Mah Jong
14:00 The Y Centre Astronomy
14:15 The RAFA Club Ancient History
10:00 The Rugby Club Writing Groups One, Two & Three
10:00 The Y Centre Table Tennis Fri 20th 10.00 The Y Centre Philosophy and Ideas
10:15 Trinity Church Hall Coffee Morning
10:15 The RAFA Club Latin
rd Mon 23 14:00 The Rugby Club Drama: Origins & Development
14:00 Awel y Mor Whist
10:00 The Rugby Club Spanish
10:15 The Rugby Club Gardening Tue 24th 14:00 Awel y Mor Bridge
14:15 The Rugby Club Food in Britain
10:00 The Rugby Club Play Reading Wed 25th 14:00 The Rugby Club Listeners’ Guide to Music
10.00 The Y Centre Painting Workshop Thu 26th 10.00 The Rugby Club Conversations
10:00 Stella Maris Book Club 1
th Fri 27 13:30 Bryngarw Country Park Walking
14:00 The Rugby Club Singing for Fun
Sun 29th 10.00 The Broomwagon, Station Hill Sunday Lunch Group
10:15 The Rugby Club Poetry
10:15 The RAFA Club Science Mon 30th 10:30 The Y Centre Photography for Everyone
14:00 The Rugby Club Canasta
14:00 Awel Y Mor Bridge Tues 31st 14:15 Stella Maris Shakespeare & other "Greats"